Caster



(,No Mbaem" I W. H. OOLDWELL. v

CASTER.

No. 595,526. I Patented Dec. 14,' 1-897.

WIiI] e 55 E5...

FE L- v UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. COLDWELL, OF NEWBURG, NEW YORK.

CASTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,526, dated December 14, 1897.

Application meanti e 17, 1897. Serial No. 648,562. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM -H. OOLDWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newburg, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to casters; and it consists of certain improvements in the construction of the same, fully set forth in the specification following.

The object of my invention is to provide a caster of such a character as will normally enable the object to which it is attached-as, for example, a chair or sofa-to be readily rolled, which will, when a sufficient weight-is placed on such'object, cause the roller to be v thrust aside and the object to which it is attached to rest on a non-rolling support.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is, a sectional view of myimproved caster in use. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modification of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate identical parts throughout.

A represents the hollow shell or body of a caster, which is made open on its under side and is provided with a slot a on its upper side. A flap 5, preferably conforming to the shape of the shell, is pivoted, as at c, in the open portion of the under side of the shell and rigidly connected to said flap, and by preference integrally, and extendin g when in place upwardly through the slot at is the sleeve b. A spring cl is interposed between a pin or a projecting part of the shell or their equivalents e, and the sleeve 6 tends to keep said sleeve 7) in the rear portion of the slot and the flap flush with the lower edges of the walls of the shell.

The shank f, adapted to engage the object to which the caster is to be attached, is provided with an annular flange f, and is preferably screw-threaded at its lower extremity, and is designed to operate in the sleeve I), through which it projects. When the shank is passed through the sleeve, a supportg is secured to it at its lower extremity.

Instead of using the form of spring shown in Figs. 1 and 2, heretofore described, I may, if I prefer, use its equivalent, as set forth in Fig. 3, which consists of a coiled spring surrounding the sleeve b and resting on the inner side of the pivoted flap b and also bearing against the inner surface of the upper side of the shell A. I

The mode of operation of my improved caster is obvious. When the device is attached to a chair, for example, the spring bearing against the sleeve normally keeps the support g out of contact with the floor, and the said chair can be readily rolled to any desired point. When there is any considerable weight applied, however, as when the chair is in use, the spring is compressed and the support 9 is forced downwardly into contact with the floor, forming a non-rolling support for said chair or other article.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is I 1. In a caster the combination with the hollow shell or body provided with a slot in its upper wall, and with a roller, of a plate pivoted in the lower part of said shell by ahorizontal pivot and forming the bottom wall of the same, the shank secured to said plate and extending upward through the said slot in the shell, a non-rolling support secured to said shank below said plate, and a spring interposed between said shell and a part connected with said shank, substantially as described.

2. In a caster the combination with the hollow shell or body provided with a slot in its top wall and with a roller, of a plate pivoted in the lower part of said shell by ahorizontal pivot, and forming the bottom wall of said shell, a sleeve formed integrally with said plate and extending upwardly through said slot in the shell, a shank extending through said sleeve having a shoulder engaging the sleeve at its upper end, a non-rolling support secured to said shank below said plate, and a spring secured at one end to said shell and having its other end engaging said sleeve above said horizontal pivot, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I aftlx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. OOLDWELL. Witnesses:

MILTON V. WARING, WILLIAM J WYGANT. 

